Method for a migratory fish bypass channel with natural features

Abstract

A method and system allowing fish to migrate upstream and downstream, bypassing dams, obstructions, either man-made or natural, safely, freely and in a natural manner. The system consists of a meandering “nature-like” channel constructed of pneumatically placed concrete, shotcrete or gunite that simulates a waterway bed condition. The construction of riffles, ledges, undercut banks and other natural-like features to provide a foundation for the placement of fish habitat, such as gravel beds, boulders, logs, and the like. The placement of sand, gravel, cobbles and such to create and provide an aquatic environment to sustain plant and aquatic life. The introduction of plants and other aquatic life to provide forage, cover and a year around natural-like environment within a river or stream-like migratory bypass channel.

I claim:  
     
       1. A method for assisting fish in bypassing an obstruction within a waterway, the method comprising: 
       (a) providing a waterway flow channel, the waterway flow channel including a flow channel inlet and a flow channel outlet for respectively directing water flow into and out of the waterway flow channel;  
       (b) lining the waterway flow channel with at least one of concrete, shotcrete and gunite, so as to produce a sealed waterway flow channel mimicking a bedrock-like condition;  
       (c) creating at least one water flow modification structure in the waterway flow channel, with the at least one of concrete, shotcrete and gunite, the at least one water flow modification structure selected from the group comprising riffles, ledges, undercut banks and scour holes;  
       (d) incorporating the at least one water flow modification structure in a manner so as to provide a water flow modified from that in the waterway;  
       (e) inducing fish traveling in the waterway to enter the flow channel inlet and be directed around the obstruction;  
       (f) placing at least one natural waterway resource item in the waterway flow channel, the at least one natural waterway resource item selected from the group comprising sand, gravel, cobbles, boulders, logs, trees, gravel bars and root masses;  
       (g) releasing water into the Waterway flow channel, so as to sort the at least one natural waterway resource item in a manner so that the waterway flow channel mimics a waterway bed;  
       (h) introducing into the waterway flow channel at least one forage source for fish, the at least one forage source for fish selected from the group comprising minnows, nymphs, larvae, crawfish, frogs and plants;  
       (i) providing each of the flow channel inlet and the flow channel outlet in fluid communication with the waterway and at a location thereof away from the obstruction; and  
       (j) causing water passing through the waterway to be diverted separately around the obstruction through the waterway flow channel.  
     
     
       2. A method as in  claim 1  and further including the step of: 
       (a) providing a water cooling device, operatively associating the water cooling device with the waterway flow channel to control the temperature of the water therein.  
     
     
       3. A method as in  claim 1  and further including the step of: 
       (a) providing at least one second water inlet between the flow channel inlet and the flow channel outlet, the at least one second water inlet selected from the group consisting of oxbow sections and tributaries, the second water inlet adapted to add a separate water flow into the waterway flow channel.  
     
     
       4. A method as in  claim 3  and further including the step of: 
       (a) creating a man-made spring in the at least one second water inlet.